TThe Ashram offers a high quality Yoga Teacher Training Course over a two year period. It’s purpose is twofold:

• To provide a professional, comprehensive and quality training in all aspects of Yoga teaching.
• To enable students to develop their own sadhana (personal yoga practise) in a systematic and guided way

The course aims to provide a high standard of practical and professional Yoga teacher training whilst also integrating the profound Spiritual practices and development that lie at the heart of Yoga. The emphasis will be on awakening the faculties of each student, thus developing the capacity to transmit Yoga to others on a profound level.

The next course will be starting in September 2009 and will run until June 2011.
Please refer to the general course prospectus for more details.

Professional Training: The course is accredited by the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY). This means that graduates will be recognised by both the Ashram and the BWY, and be able to teach Yoga throughout the UK and many European countries.

Summary of Course Syllabus: It will include:

• In-depth tuition and practice in Hatha Yoga – including Asana (postures), Pranayama practices, Mudras, Bandhas and Shat Karmas (cleansing practices).
• A comprehensive training in Meditation.
• Explanation and practice of core Mantras.
• Instruction in the path of Gyana Yoga, including the study of classical yogic texts, such as Patanjali Yoga Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita and key Upanishads.
• Experience of daily Ashram life including the practices of Karma Yoga, periods of silence, morning chanting and satsang (questions & answers).
• Introduction to Bhakti Yoga through lectures, shared interaction and devotional singing.
• Comprehensive professional teaching skills, such as class planning and preparation, student safety and business skills.

Venue: all of the course teachings take place within the focused energy and peaceful natural surroundings of the Ashram. For the past 23 years, the Ashram has been dedicated to helping people find a deeper meaning and fulfilment in life through the systematic practices and profound understanding of Yoga. It encourages us to learn how to live the values and attitudes of yoga in and through each aspect of our daily lives, thereby helping us to live more harmoniously and wisely with ourselves and with others.

Teaching Team: the course offers an experienced team of not less than 4 senior tutors, headed by Swami Nishchalananda, the course’s Spiritual director. Swamiji is well known throughout the yoga world and he has over 35 years experience of teaching yoga and training yoga teachers. He has authored several yoga books including most recently, Edge of Infinity and Mantra Yoga & Ashram Chants. Working with Swamiji, Swami Krishnapremananda will also play a major role in the day to day running of the course, sharing the experiences, knowledge and practical know-how that he has imbibed from Swamiji and other teachers over the past 12 years. Tara Rupa (Heather Donovan) and Hridaya Purna (Monica Douglas-Clark) will complete this team. Both these teachers are held in very high regard and affection within the Ashram.
The strength and depth of experience of this team will allow each student the individual time, guidance and skilled support that they need. It will also ensure that the unique understanding and inner direction of each individual student is recognised, facilitated and respected.

Deepening of personal experience: it is the inner aspiration, mature attitude and spiritual openness of each student that will be more important than their academic ability or ‘years’ of yoga experience. It will be repeatedly emphasised how the teachings can be made relevant to our daily lives. Students will not be encouraged to study anything on just an academic or intellectual level – the teachings will come alive in the direct personal experience of each individual, and also within the shared Ashram environment. The practice of Satsang, which is the sharing of practical wisdom based on inner experience, is fundamental to the course. This wisdom, when it is practiced within the crucible of our daily lives, helps to catalyse the inner spiritual transformation, which is at the heart of this course.

Applications: full details and application forms are now available from the Ashram. The deadline for applications is May 30th and informal interviews with the tutors will be held in early June.

Please refer to the general course prospectus for more details. To speak to Swami Krishnapremananda about your interest in the course, just contact the Ashram.

Related article: The Benefits of Teaching Yoga from Swami Nishchalananda.

Quotations from previous teacher training course students:

“Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and found the course work to be informative and helpful I now feel confident in my teaching practice. My personal experience of the course has been very enlightening... I feel like I have done a lot of growing over the past two years and feel inspired to continue my progression on my journey along the yoga path. Thank you to all involved for their love and support and thank you for the opportunity to participate on this course. Love light and happiness”.

”This course has surpassed my expectations... The Ashram will always be in my heart... One of the biggest things I have appreciated as well as the care and compassion shown to me by all”.

”I embarked on this course expecting it to be tough, challenging and transformative and it has been and some. Of all the schools/courses I investigated, Mandala Yoga Ashram was the one which had the strongest pull particularly because of the attention and focus given to working from the heart. I leave here feeling emboldened to go out into the world to teach yoga, whilst deepening my own practice, and intend to return whenever I can for further work”.

”Altogether a really wonderful course and I am very very grateful and happy to have had a place here”.

”I loved the course and the Ashram. Thank you! I now have a place in Europe where I can come and relate to!”

”Love and thanks for all you have shared with us. This time rests deep in my heart”.